Survey: Homeopathy is the most frequently used CAM therapy in five out of 16 surveyed countries in Europe and among the three most frequently used in 11 out of 16 surveyed countries.1

India: In India, alternative treatments, including homeopathy, are well established and integrated into the healthcare system.2

MPs: Many MPs support homeopathy. In 2007, 206 MPs signed an Early Day Motion welcoming the contribution of homeopathy to NHS healthcare.

Lords: In 2000, a House of Lords Select Committee report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine listed homeopathy as a “group one” therapy, along with osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal medicine. Group one therapies are recognised as having their own diagnostic approach and treatment methods.3

Placebo: Dr David Reilly and his team at Glasgow University have conducted four randomised double blind placebo controlled trials, over a period of 18 years, specifically designed to examine the evidence for the hypothesis that any benefits of homeopathy are due to the placebo effect. All four trials involving a total of 252 patients produced similar, positive results demonstrating that homeopathy has an effect greater than placebo and that these results are reproducible.4

Cost effectiveness: In 2005, a report commissioned by Prince Charles and carried out by economist Christopher Smallwood found that following a pilot study where patients were treated with complementary and alternative medicines there was a 30 per cent drop in the number of consultations with GPs and a saving in prescription drugs bills of 50 per cent.5

Homeopaths: Professional homeopaths come from all walks of life;The Society of Homeopaths register includes members who were previously accountants, lawyers, journalists, teachers, pharmacists, nurses, bankers and chemists.